Frequently Asked Questions

Freshmen Sophomores and Juniors.

If you are a Senior, go here. 

For a Community Service Hours Report form go here. 

1. Why do we require Community Service in order to pass from one grade to the next or to graduate?

     Service to others is one of the core values we find in the Gospel. Requiring Community Service at Bishop Gorman is one of the ways we form people in their growing faith. We teach them that service is a part of the human experience. It is the goal of the program that those who leave Gorman will find serving others as part of their ordinary daily living. 

 2. How many hours must I complete in order to graduate?

      100 hours after four years.

 3. Are their different requirements for each year?

      Yes. During your Freshman year you must complete at least 10 hours in order to move on to the next grade. By the time your Sophomore year is finished, you must have completed at least 30 hours in order to move on to the next grade. And by the time you finish your Junior year you must have at least 60 hours completed to become a Senior. To Graduate you must have completed at least 100 hours of Community Service.

 4. If I do more than the required hours for my class do the hours add up for the next year towards my total?

       Yes, if you do more than the required hours for a year, the hours add up towards your total.

 5. When can I start doing my service?

     As soon as you finish 8th grade.

 6. Can I do Community Service during the Summer?

      Yes.

 7. How do I record my service hours?

     Download the form found on Edline or here. Have the adult who supervised your work sign the form.

 8. Who can sign my form indicating what I did?

      The person who supervised your work. Your supervisor needs to have direct knowledge of what you did and this person might be contacted if Campus Ministry has any questions. This person cannot be related to you. 

 9. When must these hours be completed by?

      Underclassmen must turn in their hours by the last class day of April.

 10. Where can I find a location to do my Community Service?

       You are primarily responsible to find your own service opportunities.

       Campus Ministry has several resources for you to explore, including brochures and flyers.

       From time to time, Bishop Gorman sponsors service activities. These are announced, placed on the web site, www.bishopgorman.org, and posted throughout school.

      Go here for upcoming time specific service opportunities. 

       Go here for regular ongoing service opportunities.

       Your own church or your youth group may also have opportunities for service. 

 11. What counts for Community Service?

      Any activity that involves stewardship of God’s creation. This includes many things: from helping people to taking care of the environment.  In keeping with the Catholic Church’s “fundamental option for the poor,” we expect that a significant number of the hours will involve direct work to people in need. 

      This activity must take place within a nonprofit organization. 

      This activity must be supervised by an adult not related to you.

      School announced or organized service activities count towards your hours, except as noted in number 12 counts. 

      Service done with any agency of Catholic Charities of  Southern Nevada counts. 

 12. What does not count for credit for my Community Service requirement?

       * Anything you get paid for.

       * Anything done for a for-profit agency or person, except school approved fundraising activities.

       * Anything you use to get credit for another reason, like Confirmation, Scouting, Service Club, National Honor Society etc. That is, you can’t use hours earned from another program to count towards your Gorman hours.

       * Service to family members. They are family and you should help them anyway.

       * Hours cannot be earned during class time at school.

       * You cannot earn hours for church activities during church services such as serving, Lectoring, singing, etc. 

However, rehearsal time may count.

       * You cannot get credit for hours at any agency which engages in activities in conflict with official Catholic teaching. 

       * You cannot get credit for hours at a place which Bishop Gorman High School has deemed inappropriate. 

 13. Do I need to get my service approved before I start it?

       Yes, if it is not something already noted as approved on this web site. 

 14. How do I get my activities approved as counting  towards my Community Service requirement?

        Come to Campus Ministry. If there is a question about what you did,  and you did not receive permission  from someone in Campus Ministry, your hours may not count.

 15. Does Bishop Gorman require any specific Community Service activities?

        Yes. Every student is required to attend Matthew’s Closet at least once during their Gorman educational experience.

 If you have any additional questions you should contact Campus Ministry.  

Mrs. Susie Portz sportz@bishopgorman.org

Mrs. Kim Martinez: kmartinez@bishopgorman.org

Fr.Ed: egmw@earthlink.org